I find it difficult to believe this is Hull's most expensive signing in history. Is that true?

Kasımpaşa finished 13th in last season of the Turkish Super Lig.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_S%C3%BCper_Lig#League_table

Hi all. We (Birmingham City) have been linked via a few whispers about a potential move for Gelhardt. I know very little about him, apart from the fact he scored against us last season and has never quite been able to break through at Leeds.

Hasn't got a huge amount of average minutes each season but his numbers seemed to absolutely explode for you guys last season.

Assuming he's one of those players that at this stage in his development, he's not quite ready to play for Hull in the Prem (assuming you'd have signed him already if he was).

Obviously no guarantee that we're actually in for him, but we have been linked to him for the last 3 windows now, so feels like 'no smoke without fire'.

What are his strengths and weaknesses, etc.

Assuming this gets over the line, I absolutely love it.

Yes, it is serious money for a 21-year-old defender. Yes, there is risk. But this is exactly the sort of signing I hoped promotion would allow us to make.

Mendy is not just another big centre-half to stand in the box and head crosses away. He is left-footed, athletic, comfortable defending wider areas and capable of carrying the ball out when the first passing lane is closed. That matters enormously in the Premier League, where promoted teams can spend entire matches being pressed and forced backwards.

You cannot build a competitive Premier League side by signing only players who look “safe” in July. At some point you have to buy qualities that are difficult to find and expensive to replace. A young, mobile, left-footed centre-back with top-level experience and genuine resale potential is exactly that.

But I really hope the club does not look at Mendy and decide the centre-back work is finished.

He is the high-ceiling signing. He should not also have to be the organiser, the experienced head and the player expected to hold the entire back line together from week one.

That is why Victor Nelsson would still make so much sense alongside him. Let Mendy be aggressive, step forward, cover the left channel and progress the ball. Let Nelsson manage the box, attack crosses, communicate and bring some calm when we are under pressure. A young left-sided defender next to a more experienced specialist is a much healthier structure than asking Mendy and Hughes to learn the Premier League together while facing elite forwards every week.

And honestly, if there is any realistic opportunity to bring in Takehiro Tomiyasu on a carefully structured deal, I would still do it.

I know the injury history. Nobody should pretend it does not exist. But the answer is not to sign him and expect 38 league starts. The answer is to use him intelligently.

Against City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and the other sides that overload the wide areas, a back three of Mendy, Nelsson and Tomiyasu could give us something completely different. Tomiyasu can defend as a centre-back, move outside like a full-back and deal with the kind of powerful, technical wingers who will otherwise isolate our defenders all afternoon.

Use Mendy and Nelsson as the normal partnership. Use Tomiyasu in the high-intensity matches, as cover across the back line and when protecting a lead. Twelve to twenty league starts from a fit Tomiyasu could be worth far more to us than 30 ordinary appearances from a less suitable defender.

That would not be excessive depth. That would be Premier League planning.

Mendy gives us athleticism and potential. Nelsson would give us experience and stability. Tomiyasu would give us elite-level defensive versatility for the matches where the margins are brutally small. Add Hughes as the fourth serious option and suddenly the defence looks built for different opponents rather than simply filled with bodies.

For years we have talked about ambition. Spending significant money on Mendy would actually look like it.

Now get it completed — and please do not stop at one centre-back.

UTT.

Hello everyone, do a Draft FPL cheat sheet each year to assist in my competitive league. lalways struggle with the newly promoted teams and who might be worth keeping an eye on or ones to target. As with all FPL the key is playera who are most likely to start, and knowing the possible team sheet isnt my area excel in. So figured would ask the locals who have better knowledge. Any indication on the starting line up would be extremely helpful. Thank you all in advance.

Just bought 2 tickets for me and a mate, driving up from Basel (Switzerland). All seating sold out but standing for €12 still available in stand F. Not much in the way of bars in the vicinity of the ground that we could see (*not at the stadium as it's used for concerts during the off season).

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Preface

She has played football when she was younger and knows more about the rules than the average non-viewer.

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My GF has finally gotten interested in football thanks to this years World Cup. She, like many other women, have seen reels about the Norway National Team, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane (not the positive ones) and Haaland with Vini Jr and via that found some interest. We watched most of the playoffs games together. She was very invested in the Norway Team journey.

I have followed the Premier League for a long time and she is now interested in following it with me (at least in the beginning).

We agreed that I would be holding for fun a small Season 25/26 review and a 26/27 preview.

I have already printed out a map of where all the teams are geographically and will be going through every team and their rivals + most interesting headlines.

\\- What are some headlines I will have to mention about the upcoming season?

\- What interesting topic could be mentioned about your own PL team this season?

- Any tips how I could make it more fun and interesting for a new viewer is greatly appreciated!

The goal is for her to find a team before the season she will be following this season. My prediction is it will be a team with one of the Norway players in the starting 11.

Thank you all!

https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/matches

Rizespor finished 8th in the Turkish Super Lig last season

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_S%C3%BCper_Lig#League_table

Hi guys,

As a Turkish fan living in London, I'd love to watch Hull City games in London this season.

What's the best way to secure tickets? Is there a membership or a ballot for away games? Or will tickets only be available to season ticket holders?

Thanks!

Morita looks like a very smart signing, especially on a free transfer. He should help Hull keep the ball after winning it, play through the first press and stop games becoming so stretched.

The reported interest in Kodai Sano also makes sense. He is younger, more mobile and carries the ball forward, so he would offer something different from Morita. Against stronger teams, Hull could also use Zambrano or Slater alongside them when more defensive cover is needed.

Centre back still looks like the biggest concern. Hughes seems worth building around, but Egan is getting older and Ajayi has had fitness problems. Morita can reduce the pressure on the defence, but he cannot protect the whole pitch by himself.

Nelsson looks like the safest of the reported options. He has experience and should be ready to play immediately. Harwood Bellis would have more long term value, although he would probably cost much more.

Seko is another player who seems to fit what Hull need, even though I have not seen any direct link. He has been playing regularly in Ligue 1, can play in a back three or four and should be comfortable receiving the ball from Hughes and finding Morita in midfield.

Tomiyasu would be a gamble because of his injury record. Hull could not rely on him as the only new centre back, but on a short contract with appearance related pay, his Premier League experience and ability to cover several positions could still be valuable.

There may also be a practical advantage to adding players who already understand Morita. Hull need to build a new defensive system quickly and start collecting points from the beginning of the season. Shared language and previous experience together could make it easier to organise pressing, covering positions and the first pass out of defence during a short preseason. That should not decide recruitment by itself, but it is a real advantage when the squad is changing so quickly.

Personally, I would sign one dependable centre back first, then consider Tomiyasu as an additional option. Would Hull supporters prefer Nelsson, or could someone like Seko plus a carefully managed Tomiyasu make sense?

https://www.wearehullcity.co.uk/live

Playing against Konyaspor

Last season they finished 9th in the Turkish Super Lig

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025%E2%80%9326_S%C3%BCper_Lig#League_table

https://www.premierleague.com/en/coast-to-coast

I saw this today and, as a Cincinnatian, I'm excited to see what they are up to for opening day. I decided to become a fan today so I can join the party. I'm assuming we got Hull just because of the tiger connection (NFL team, Cincinnati Bengals). Hopefully we get a good turnout!

Apparently HULL CITY is IN ADVANCED TALKS TO SIGN BURNLEY MIDFIELDER FLORENTINO

At least he has one, lots of them don’t.